As a child, Geoff Hunt was beating men 30 years his senior at squash, including former Australian cricket captain Ian Johnson. As he is made a Legend of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Hunt tells the story of his prodigious career.
With few juniors to compete against, the prepubescent Geoff Hunt played squash against men from the start. One was former Australian cricket captain Ian Johnson, 30 years his senior, who expressed good-natured surprise to lose to such a stripling. Another time, Hunt matched wits with Bob Cowper, a future Test triple century-maker.Paul Harris
Hunt marked himself down for his forehand. “It always let me down,” he said. We should all be so troubled! He compensated with smarts, a cool head and speed around the court. “One of my fortes was that I got in early,” he said. “I was quick onto the ball. I’d give my opponent no time to think. That would cover up my inability to play some shots. I don’t think I was ever a great shot player.”But he was what all greats are, archly competitive.
Englishman Jonah Barrington was on a mission to popularise the game and enlisted Hunt and his mate Ken Hiscoe among others for a hectic series of exhibition matches. Hunt’s father, who worked in marketing, did the sums. “You could probably earn four times what you’re earning now in your first year,” he told his son. In Australia, Hunt and Hiscoe played 21 matches in four weeks. In England, he played Barrington 15 times and beat him 13-2.
Hunt puzzles over squash’s vast winning streaks, his and others’. “The only explanation I can think of is that you don’t have to be that much better than a player to beat them,” he said “But if you’re a little better, you do win.” His repertoire was his own. Because he was quick, he would often play backhand shots off his left leg, rather than step across his right in the usual way. That meant he was already on the move back to the centre of the court.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australian comedy Audrey goes to dark, dark places in its hunt for laughsJackie van Beek plays a former Logie winner who pretends to be her teenage daughter in a black comedy that counts Muriel’s Wedding as a spiritual predecessor.
Read more »
Australian comedy Audrey goes to dark, dark places in its hunt for laughsJackie van Beek plays a former Logie winner who pretends to be her teenage daughter in a black comedy that counts Muriel’s Wedding as a spiritual predecessor.
Read more »
Australian comedy Audrey goes to dark, dark places in its hunt for laughsJackie van Beek plays a former Logie winner who pretends to be her teenage daughter in a black comedy that counts Muriel’s Wedding as a spiritual predecessor.
Read more »
British Olympic great and World’s Strongest Man winner Geoff Capes dies aged 757NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Geoff Capes, two-time World's Strongest Man, Olympian and budgerigar breeder, diesGeoff Capes, who twice won the World's Strongest Man in the 1980s and competed at three Olympic Games, as well as being a renowned breeder of budgerigars, has died aged 75.
Read more »
Geoff Capes, Britain’s greatest shot putter and World’s Strongest Man winner, dies aged 75Geoff Capes, Britain’s greatest shot putter, has died aged 75
Read more »